GOOD SHEPHERDS

    

    In John 10:1-19 we read Jesus' words as he speaks about the door and the sheep, the proper way of entering, and other ways.  For this study, I want to focus on Jesus, and how He is the proper way, and the Good Shepherd.  Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep." (John 10:11) Jesus went on to literally give His life for us, yet His whole walk was that of a Shepherd who daily gave His life for His sheep (those that followed Him). He says, "...The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice." (John 10:3-4)
     He contrasts His proper way with those such as hirelings, strangers, thieves and robbers (who use some other way) whom the sheep are not supposed to hear (listen to). Those that listen to (hear) Him are led to "life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) The person that follows Him will "be saved, and he shall go in and out [of the sheepfold], and find pasture [be nourished]." (John 10:9) Those who have other ways, and are not the good shepherd, "care not for the sheep." (John 10:13) 
     It may be difficult to compare present day shepherds with Jesus, yet because our calling is to be "conformed to the image of His son" (Romans 8:29) we should all be revealing His characteristics, His attitude, His disposition toward His sheep! "Let this mind [disposition or inclination] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who...made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant..." (Phil. 2: 5-7) As Jesus reflected the Father, being "the brightness of HIS glory, and the express image of HIS person," (Heb.1:3) we in turn should reflect Jesus' disposition as servants. As Paul instructed the Corinthians: "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth...Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved." (1 Cor. 10: 24 & 33)  This is part of dying daily and laying down our lives for our friends.
     Paul wrote of Timothy, whom he sent to the Philippians: "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." (Phil. 2:19-21) I believe Paul emphasized Timothy's devotion as a servant/minister/pastor, not to denigrate others (though Paul wrote he has no man "like-minded" as Timothy). The Bible's emphasis on the servanthood of Christ, and of Paul and Timothy, reveals the example of leadership that God seeks in His people.
     The Good Shepherd leads His sheep, and they follow Him! Unlike other sheep that are driven, by a hireling or false shepherd, our Lord's fearful sheep are led, encouraged, given confidence by the assurance of the Shepherd who protects them and provides for them. The 23rd Psalm tells us this: Because "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Ps. 23:1-3) Because "The Lord is MY Shepherd" He does what is good for me even when I foolishly (like a sheep) don't think He does!
     True shepherds do not beat or drive away the sheep that are committed to their care. Rather, they protect and shelter them, and go after those that go astray, not counting their trespasses against them. Again, Paul said of Timothy (and to him): "And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [complete] throughly [completely] furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:15-17) A Good Shepherd uses all Scripture, doctrine, reproof and correction for the welfare of the sheep...to instruct them in righteousness! This righteousness is a justification, equity, or right-standing with God that is based upon faith which is in Christ Jesus. This is the safe place, the mansion prepared for us in Him, the sheepfold that protects us from the outside threats. Do we use, or hear Scriptures used, for this purpose? Jesus did; He did not come to condemn, but to give life.
     Scripture is not to be used to tear apart another, it is for restoration. Even when the immoral man referred to in 1 Corinthians 5 was exposed, Paul instructed the people to "deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 5:5) He later wrote that the church which punished this man should forgive him and comfort him, and confirm their love toward him. (2 Cor. 2:6-8) In another place, Paul wrote: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness... Bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Gal. 6:1-2) That law is Love! Love seeks not its own. Follow after Love, and desire spiritual gifts so that you can edify, exhort (to righteousness), and comfort! (Excerpted from 1 Cor. 13 & 14)
     As I've traveled and come into contact with Christians from all over the country, I am amazed at the divisions and alienation I have seen among brothers and sisters in Christ.  Members leave churches without a word to their Pastors, and Pastors refuse to go after them to find out the cause. Both sides are irresponsible in this, seeking their own preservations and not seeking the welfare of the other. Jesus may not have gone after the rich young ruler and others like him who rejected Him, but he always went after His sheep.  Unfaithful Peter, and Doubting Thomas, John and James (the power-hungry sons of Zebedee) ... Saul of Tarsus! Jesus gave us the parable of the man who had 100 sheep. "If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?... Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." (Matt. 18:12+14)
     I will close with two examples of Shepherds that I personally witnessed. The first Shepherd was a man who was the Pastor of another church. He approached my wife in earnestness and asked her to forgive him. He, as a Pastor, in the office of a Pastor, asked her to forgive him for the hurts inflicted upon her by Pastors in her past! I heard every word he spoke to her and I was amazed! He did not speak lightly, or seek quick forgiveness, but spoke from the heart. (Mercy's input.) It was Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.
     The second example is of a Pastor who was verbally attacked by a parishioner who was really angry over something to do with his wife and the Pastor. It was a control issue, and it appeared that all three people were out of sorts. Well, after a few days, heads cooled down, and the parishioner reached out to the Pastor, very contrite about his own actions and attitude, not accusing or condemning the Pastor. I had expected the Pastor to do the reaching out, but he didn't; and in the end the Pastor rejected the other man's overture toward him.    
     All the examples of UN-Christ like attitudes, we members of the Body of Christ have too often followed, allowing flesh, or carnal desires, to rule and reign in our lives. Every time we allow division among ourselves it is because we honor flesh and blood. Truly, we need to seek a Spirit of Repentance daily as we deal with life's struggles. Apart from Him, without seeking His Grace, we fall very short of the necessary strength to combat the weaknesses of our flesh. Let us seek Him with confidence, knowing His is ready, willing, and able to provide mercy and grace in our time of need!

     The writer of Hebrews reveals that Jesus is the "brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person" (Heb. 1:3) and goes on to explain that Jesus was made better than the angels who were sent to be "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." (Heb. 1:14) This servanthood of both the angels and Jesus is our example of ministering as a public servant or as a priestly service. Jesus revealed "what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (1 John 3:1) Who are these heirs of salvation and sons of God? I believe it is those who are born again; that is, those who are born of the Spirit, in the manner that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about. We so often hear quoted John 3:16, yet this is the passage of scripture in which Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being born again. Read John 3:1-21 and you will see that this passage is about those who will be saved through the revelation that only the Spirit of God brings to a person. When Nicodemus acted confused, he asked, "How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, are you a master of Israel and know not these things?" (John 3: 9-10) Here is this master (teacher) of Israel revealing his ignorance in spiritual matters. Paul writes a lot about this need of the Spirit to understand the things of God. "But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth n o man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:9-11)
     Please note that I am not implying that being born again has anything to do with signs and wonders, (even though it is a wonder, to be born again!) but rather the basic and vital need to know God! It is only through the Spirit of God that we receive in our hearts the things of God that are freely given to us in Christ. The intellect cannot comprehend the deep things of God, only the Spirit can unveil them. Paul also writes: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:14-17) Nicodemus, with all his education, could not comprehend that he needed faith in Christ that would require h is laying aside faith in himself to keep the Law. This dying to oneself is letting go of all confidence in our ability to get to God, and only the Spirit of God can show us this!
     If, by faith through the Spirit, we comprehend this, then the free gift of God will manifest itself in us in an attitude of gratitude that reveals itself by the same spirit of servanthood that brought to us this great salvation. When we follow after self-preservation and things of the flesh it is very clearly revealed in our actions that we have left our First Love and have put our desires first. Earlier I quoted 1 John 3:1, in which John declares what manner of love God has bestowed upon us. Well, Peter wrote about our choice to focus on either the things of this world (our flesh) or the things of God (the salvation freely given to us through the Spirit). Knowing that salvation and eternal life with God is of the utmost importance, and nothing in this world compares, Peter wrote: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (2 Pet. 3:11) I might be a little fond of this word "manner," but our manner should become God's manner!
     God comes after us. Though we may feel abandoned, God does not leave or forsake us. Peter also wrote: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9) God's vision has a "fulness of the times" purpose (Gal. 4:4 & Eph. 1:10) in which He brings together all things unto Himself through Jesus Christ. This is the faith we are to have while we await the unveiling of His plans! We do not unveil or reveal Christ, His Spirit does! Do we have faith in His Spirit to do this? The children of Israel, under Egyptian bondage, were a good example. They could not deliver themselves. Why did it take 400 years for God to hear their cries? Did He not hear their cries after 300 years? By faith I believe that God knows why it took 400 years and He used those 400 years to work in them what was needed in them. I bet they didn't think so! Concerning the "fulness of times" Scriptures cited above, the chapters where they are found reveal the redemption, inheritance, adoption, and acceptability that we are made in Christ Who was sent for us so that we might obtain these spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ! The flesh wants earthly blessings, but the spirit of a man desires the things of the Spirit of God. That's what we cry for, hunger for, and we foolishly substitute something religious to appease our true needs. Earlier I said God comes after us. Well, religion teaches us to find God, but on man's terms, as equal partners in the salvation our souls so desperately seek. We are to draw near to God, and when we don't, or when we go astray, He continues to pursue us. Consider yourself a lost, confused, wayward, and scared sheep who after being separated from his Shepherd has no way of returning unto Him. What does God do with you?
     He sends His son to fetch you! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) Sin, which is separation from God, comes in many forms, and it leads us away from God. This is what happens to sheep who stray too far away from the voice of their Shepherd. Man, through sin, did this very thing. God, by His Mercy, through the Grace He provides, brings to us the opportunity to return unto Him. His sheep hear His voice, and by faith in Him, respond to that call. Try thinking of yourself as that alienated, frightened sheep. Would you be angry that He took so long finding you, or thankful that he found you? All the time between being lost and found, He was coming after you. That may have been a rough time (I know it was) and you may have picked up some wounds along the way, but remember, it was you that went astray. He comes to us (the Spirit of God touches the spirit of man) with the blessed assurance of His love that we once knew.
     To the born-again person there is a feeling of coming home, of finding the missing link in our lives, filling the void, and being delivered from the fear that is in us because of sin. I later understood this Scripturally, but experientially I lived it when Jesus Christ came into my life. That life was as a lost sheep who had no Shepherd to protect him from the dangers of life. If by faith you believe the Scriptures that declare that there is only One God, One Creator, it is reasonable to assume that we all came from God. Recognizing that sin separated us from God and that nothing sinful could restore us to God, then another way to God must be established. That is why He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us. Man thinks he can get to God, but only God can do this reuniting work. Peter writes, in reference to Isaiah: "For you were as sheep going astray; but now are returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pet. 2:25) This is in reference to that great passage of scripture in Isaiah 53:6. Both the Isaiah and 1 Pet. 2 verses are preceded by verses that reveal His taking the stripes that our sin deserved, and by His substitutionary work, we are restored to God. Adam's actions separated us and gave us a legacy of sin. The actions of Jesus Christ delivered us from the consequences of Adam's actions and returned us to the fellowship with God that we had at the beginning. To dilute this truth and passage for a temporal alleviation of discomfort is a form of mocking God. His plans for us are not temporal, they are eternal. Jesus often used temporal situations to reveal eternal truths. Today, men attempt to use eternal truths to fix temporal conditions.  Yet, as earlier quoted, concerning the temporal things of this life that are inferior to eternal life: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (2 Pet. 3:11)
     Our "conversation" is not only our words, but our actions. This attitude or disposition is the nature of God manifested in Christ, and it should also be manifested in us toward others. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, ...took upon Him the form of a servant." (Phil. 2:3-7) The "testimony" or "witness" we give has less to do with words than it does with actions. The old adage, "actions speak louder than words," is very fitting and in accord with what James writes about his faith being revealed by his works. The mindset of a returned prodigal sheep would be one of appreciation, not arrogance. Sadly, many in the Christian community give off the pompous appearance of superiority, rather than the humility that points to Christ in recognition of the great work He did on our behalf. 
     I will close this with a poem that a friend gave me years ago.  His name is Charlie Droz, and he wrote it in 1988. I have it on my wall above my computer and was just drawn to it. It is called:
           
                            "A SERVANT'S REQUEST"

                           Tell me Lord, what can I do,
                           To be a servant, and worthy of you?
                           No prize do I ask,
                           And no reward do I seek,
                           But just your blessing as one
                           Of your sheep.

                           Show me the path
                           That you mapped out for me,
                           Long before I knew you,
                           Only you know what that will be.

                           So guide me, dear Lord,
                           With each passing day,
                           And may I hear from you often,
                           Only you---can show me the way.
                                                                                      Amen

                    With much love to all, and Merry Christmas.
                                                  Joe (with Mercy)